with RealPlayer and RealPlayer Plus 5.0, G2, 7, and 8 Downloading DirectX
If RealPlayer did not detect the presence of Microsoft DirectX drivers on your computer when you tried to view a clip in Full Screen mode, then you may have seen an "Error 118" message. DirectX needs to be installed properly on your machine before you can use the Full Screen video option in RealPlayer. Before you download DirectX, however, please consider a few things first.
Things to Consider Before Downloading DirectX
Not all computers can successfully use Microsoft DirectX components and hence, not all computers are capable of supporting the Full Screen video option in the RealPlayer 5.0, G2, 7, or 8. Consider the three questions below to evaluate if your computer is capable of supporting both DirectX and the RealPlayer Full Screen video option. If one or more of the requirements are not met by the computer, we do not recommend installing DirectX and using the RealPlayer Full Screen video option.
1. Does your Internet connection support Full Screen video?
Full Screen video quality is best when viewed over connections greater than 100Kbps. Users with Internet connections less than 100Kbps may not want to enable the Full Screen video option.
2. Does your computer meet the system requirements for using RealPlayer 5.0, G2, 7, or 8 at the higher bandwidth options?
Click here to view the RealPlayer system requirements page.
3. Can your computer support Microsoft DirectX software?
In order for the computer to support DirectX software, the hardware components must be able to use DirectX certified drivers. DirectX certified drivers are part of the DirectX software, but can also be obtained directly from video card hardware manufacturers.
DirectX certification is a process involving the submission of drivers to Microsoft for testing. During the testing period, manufacturers may also allow the public to use the drivers. When upgrading manufacturer-created drivers, check the manufacturer's ReadMe file or release notes to determine if the driver is enabled for DirectX support. Older hardware is less likely to support DirectX compatibility.
Downloading Microsoft DirectX
If after considering the above issues, you are ready to download DirectX, please first be aware of the following before proceeding:
- Not all video card drivers are compatible with Microsoft DirectX. Downloading and installing Microsoft DirectX software does not guarantee that your system will be able to utilize the RealPlayer Full Screen video capability.
- Because of possible driver incompatibility, installing Microsoft DirectX may disable other video-related features of your computer such as extra control panels or on-the-fly video resolution switching.
To download Microsoft DirectX software, click on the download link below. You will be prompted to choose the folder on your hard drive where the DirectX installation file will be saved. Choose a folder that will be easy to remember after the file is saved.
Installing DirectX
Once the file has downloaded to your hard drive, double click on the file to begin the installation. The installation will search for your sound card and video card drivers. If the installation program does not recognize the drivers, then you will see a dialog box that reads, "Install new driver? (Not recommended)", with options to answer "Yes" or "No".
Choose "No" to keep your current drivers because they may be necessary for other video options within your system. Please be aware that not all video card drivers are compatible with Microsoft DirectX software. If your video card driver is not compatible, Full Screen video will not play successfully.
Use Current Drivers
It is a good idea to use the most current drivers available for the video card in your computer. Current drivers are more likely to be DirectX compatible. Driver updates can usually be downloaded freely from the Web. Check your video card manufacturer's Web site for the updates. We offer lists of common driver manufacturers. If the manufacturer of your video card is not in the list, look for a web site address in the video card documentation.
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